Instrument for destroying caterpillar-nests



J. S. NEEDHAM.

Insect-Destroyer.

No. 45,428. Patented Dec. 13, 1864.

AN, PHBTDLITHD. C0. Nff, (DSB'JRNE'S PROCESS.)

UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE.

JOSEPH S. NEEDHAM, OF SOUTH DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS.

INSTRUMENT FOR DE-STROYING CATERPILLAR-NESTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent- No. 45 42S, dated December 13,1864.

To 'all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. N EEDHAM, of South Danvers, in the county ot Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Implement for Removing the Nests of Oaterpillars from Trees; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully described in the following specification and represented in the accompanying drawings, of Which- Figure l is a side view, and Fig. 2 alongitudinal section, of it.

rlhe invention in question is composed of a conical or tapering block of wood, A, and a covering, B, ot' card, clothing, such as is ordinarily used for carding wool, and which consists of a strip of leather having Wire teeth inserted in and so as to project from it.` The oir-clothing is to be stretched on the Wooden block B, with the leather next to the tapering suface of the block, and may be secured in place thereon by nails, wires, or cement, or other proper means. The implement so made is to have a hole or socket, a, formed axially i in it, and opening out of its base, such socket being for the reception of the end of a pole to Which the implement is to be applied when in use.

j To use the implement, it is to be pushed end foremost into a caterpillars nest and revolved therein, in which case it Will extra-et i or draw the nest away from the tree. By hav- J ing the implement pointed and tapering, it

can be inserted closely into the crotch or angle in which the nest is usually made, howi ever acute such angle may be.

For removing the caterpillars andv nest from the teeth of the implement, a common handcard or a comb may be used. I prefer the card, as by means of it the Work can be thoroughly and expeditiously eected.

The implement, when used, will not only receive the nest and its content-s from the twig or branch, but should any of the Worms be left behind they will be punctured by the wires, which in such oase is sure death to them.

What I claim as my invention is- The implement made substantially as and for the purpose hereinbetore explained.

JOSEPH S. NEEDHAM. 

